France captain Manaé Feleu spoiled Ireland's last-chance lineout and sent her team into the Women's Rugby World Cup semifinals in Exeter on Sunday.

France won a nail-biter 18-13 from 13-0 down at halftime in slippery conditions.

The French advanced to their eighth semifinal in their 10th World Cup but they were pushed all the way by a tenacious Irish side playing their first knockout match in 11 years.

Two last-minute penalties gave Ireland a throw-in five meters from the try-line with the French short a woman; Alexandra Chambon was in the sin-bin.

France risked throwing players up instead of bracing for a maul and Feleu, at the front, got finger-tips to the throw-in to knock on the ball but end the nerve-wracking finale.

The rain and wind that dictated the first half died away in the

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